Inverted turbine



March 20, 1962 Filed Dec. 3, 1959 M. D. GREEN INVERTED TURBINE 4Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

MA x D. GREEN \S MM &. M

ATTORNEY M. D. GREEN INVERTED TURBINE March 20, 1962 Filed Dec. 3, 19594 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. MA x D. GREEN ATTORNEY March 20, 1962 M.D. GREEN INVERTED TURBINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 5, 1959 INVENTOR.MAX 0. GREEN.

ATTORNEY March 20, 1962 M. D. GREEN INVERTED TURBINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Filed Dec. 3, 1959 IN VEN TOR. MAX 0 GREEN.

A TORN United States Patent Ofiice 3,026,088 Patented Mar. 20, 19623,026,088 INVERTED TURBINE Max D. Green, 1398 Ave. Q, Phoenix, Ariz.Filed Dec. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 856,994 3 Claims. (Cl. 253-165) Thisinvention is directed to an inverted turbine wherein the source of powerto drive it is mounted within the axis of rotation of the main impellerwheel.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a turbine in whichthe source of power to drive it is mounted within the periphery andinside of the main impeller wheel.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a turbine in whichthe source of power to drive the turbine can be provided through theaxis of the central support members of the turbine wheel.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an inverted turbineof the above described character in which the shape of the blades are soarranged that it may be revolved in either direction by reversing thedirection of power against the sides of the turbine blades.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in a turbinestructure as recited above a closure ring within the turbine wheel so asto form a chamber which encloses the turbine blades, thus providing atotally enclosed operating circuit for the turbine.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in a totallyenclosed turbine structure just recited above a power supply line and areturn or exhaust line in order to revolve the turbine wheel in oppositedirections, the combination of the two lines being such that the linenot being used as a pressure line when the turbine wheel is revolved inone direction is used as a return or exhaust line to remove the fluidfrom the turbine chamber, and vice versa when the turbine is revolved inthe opposite direction.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a totally enclosedturbine structure as recited above in which greater efliciency of poweris obtained and no loss of fluid during its operation thus makingpossible the use of a pressure system in which it is desired to retainthe fiuid used and return it to the original supply to be reused againin the operation of the device.

Still another object of this invention as recited above in connectionwith a totally enclosed structure is in the combination of featuresmentioned above so that a minimum amount of lines and passageways arerequired and a considerably simplified structure results.

And it is to be further noted that when seals are used to retain thepressure fluid in the above mentioned totally enclosed structure and thepressure fluid is of the lubricant type, the bearings of the device areself-lubricated from the pressure fluid when such seals are in use.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a combination ofcontrol valves that permits control of the turbine wheel from onecentral controlled area so that the turbine wheel can be operated atvarious speeds in either direction and stopped due to this combinationof valves from the central control.

Another object of this invention is that the ratio of the turbine bladesto the number of pressure lines used is such as not to be divisible bythe number of lines in use, or if they are divisible, then to conveypressure fluid to the turbine blades by lines or ports unevenly spacedcircumferentially about the turbine wheel, to thus provide smootheroperation and an increase in the number of power pulsations for quietervibration free operation.

It is also an object of this invention to construct a turbine wheel withtotally enclosed sides so that the pressure fluid is held directlywithin the turbine wheel so as to place all of the power from thepressure fluid upon the turbine wheel.

Another object of this invention is to arrange the turbine wheel so thatit revolves around a tubular axis and maintains itself on said axis bythe balance of pressures being exerted on the turbine blades from withinthe turbine Wheel. Thus the turbine wheel is substantially positioned onthe proper axis of rotation without requiring any particular bearingguide means between the wheel and the tubular supporting framestructure.

Further features and advantages of this invention will appear from adetailed description of the drawings in which: a

FIG. 1 is an enlarged sectional view of a turbine in corporating thefeatures of this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an end elevation of the turbine illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged section of the control valve on theline 55 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged section of the control valve on theline 66 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged section of the control valve on theline 77 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the valve components shown in FIGS. 3,5, 6 and 7.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of a modification showing a totallyenclosed turbine wheel structure incorporating the features of thisinvention.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary section of the apparatus taken on the line 1010of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the centralized controlmechanism for the turbine.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged diagram partly in section showing the controladjustment for neutral.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged diagram partly in section showing the controladjustment for forward turbine rotation.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged diagram partly in section showing the controladjustment for reverse turbine rotation.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged diagram partly in section showing the controladjustment for braking of the turbine.

As an example of one embodiment of this invention there is shown aturbine having a base 20 to which is fixed the upstanding supports 21having the bore 22 in which is fixed tubular support member 23 to whichare fixed the radially disposed supports 24 on the outer ends of whichare fixed the spacer bushings 25. Annular side plates 26 are fixed tothe bushings 25 by suitable rivets 27, the plates 26 being furthersupported in spaced relationship by the bushings 28 and rivets 29.

The turbine wheel 30 comprises an annular ring 31 having a peripheralsurface 32 over which may operate a power take-off belt 33 While theinterior bore 34 is provided with a series of radially inwardlyextending impeller blades 35 having side faces 36 rotating between theinner faces 37 of the side plates 26. The side faces 36 are recessedbelow the outside faces 38 of the turbine wheel 30 so as to formsurfaces 39 which may rotatably engage the peripheral surfaces 40 of theannular side plates 26.

Forward discharge jet tubes 41 are fixed at their inner ends to thetubular member 23 and are in communica tion with the interior bore 42 ofthe member 23 through the ports 43. The outer ends of the tubes 41 aresuitably supported in brackets 44 attached to the side plates 26 andterminate in discharge ends 45 which direct fluid pressure to theimpeller surfaces 46 of the blades 35 for forward driving rotation ofthe turbine wheel 30. Sim

ilarly, the reverse drive tubes 47 have their inner ends 48 fixed to thetube 23 and in communication with the bore 42 thereof through the ports49 while the outer ends of the tubes 47 are supported on suitablebrackets 50 on the side plates 26 and have discharge ends 51 fordirecting fluid pressure against reverse rotation impeller surfaces 52.

Within the bore 42 of the tubular support member 23 is rotatablyjournaled the tubular valve 53 having an operating knob 54 for rotatingthe valve 53 in the member 23. A stop pin 55 is fixed in the member 23and projects inwardly into a segmental groove 56 formed in peripheralsurface 57 of the valve 53 so as to limit rotation of the valve 53 to apartial rotation by the knob 54. Connected to the pressure supply port58 formed in the tubular support member 23 is a suitable fluid pressuresupply line 59, the port 58 in turn being in communication with theinterior chamber 60 of the valve 53. A pair of forward ports 61 areformed in the valve 53 in communication with the chamber 60 and adaptedto register with the ports 43 when the valve is rotated to one end ofslot 56 and to close off said ports when the valve 53 is rotated to theother side of slot 56 as stopped by the pin 55. Similarly, a pair ofreverse ports 62 are formed in the valve 53 in communication with thechamber 60 and adapted to register with the ports 49 when the valve isrotated to the end of slot 56 and to close off said ports when the valve53 is rotated to the other side of slot 56 as stopped by the pin 55. Itis to be noted that the ports 43-61 and 49-62 are so arranged thateither one or the other group are connected to the chamber 60 and fluidpressure supply line 59 when knob 54 is manipulated to one or the otherdirection of rotation and that when in .an intermediate position, fluidpressure is cut off from both sets of ports for non-rotation of theturbine wheel. Manipulating the valve knob 54 either side of saidintermediate said non-rotation position efi'ects control of both flowsfor braking the turbine wheel.

In FIGS. 9 through 15 inclusive is shown a modification of the apparatusalready described above in which there is provided a totally enclosedfluid pressure system for actuating the turbine wheel. In thisarrangement a power unit frame 63 is supported on a suitable base 64.The side plates 65 are securely riveted at 66 to the discharge port ring67 having the forward discharge ports 68 arranged to discharge againstthe blades 70 of the turbine wheel 71. In this arrangement, FIG. 10, theturbine wheel is guided between the surfaces 72 of the side plates 65while suitable seals 73 are provided between the surfaces 74 of theturbine wheel and the surfaces 75 of the sealing rings 76 suitably fixedto the side plates 65 so as to provide a totally enclosed sealed chamberfor the pockets 77 formed between the blades 70 of the turbine wheel.

Referring to FIG. 9, it will be noted that the circumferential spacingof the pockets 77 and the discharge and exhaust ports 68-69 is such thata uniform back pressure in the main supply line 81 results. For example,on the left hand side of FIG. 9 it will be noted that the forwarddischarge port is in communication with the discharge port 69 through apocket 77 while on the right hand side of FIG. 9 it can be seen that theports 68 and 69 are blocked off by a blade 70, this conditionalternating back and forth at varying degrees as the turbine wheelrotates resulting in a smooth continuous flow of fluid through thedevice with no upsurges of back pressure against the pump 78. When thenumber of turbine blades used is not divisible by a whole number by thenumber of pressure ports used to revolve the turbine in any onedirection, the pressure ports are evenly spaced circumferentially aboutthe turbine wheel, thus the pressure against the turbine blades is notdirected on any two turbine blades at the same point on the blades. Whenthe number of turbine blades is divisible by a whole number by thenumber of pressure ports used to revolve the turbine wheel in any onedirection, the pressure ports are unevenly spaced circumferentiallyabout the turbine wheel so that the pressure against the turbine bladesis not directed on any two turbine blades at the same point on theblades.

Fluid pressure for actuating the just described modification is derivedfrom a fluid pressure pump 78 mounted on the frame 63 which is drivenfrom a suitable prime mover such as an electric motor 79 mounted on theframe 63 and connected by a suitable belt 89 to the pump'78. The fluidpressure line 8-1 from the pump 78 is connected to the intake port 82 ofthecontrol valve 83. Port 84 of valve 83 is connected by line 85 and themultiple connection 86 and lines 37 to the ports 68 in the ring 67. Line85 is also connected to line 88 which is connected to port 89 of valve90. The intake line 91 of the pump 78 is connected to port 92 of thevalve 90 and also through line 93 to the fluid reservoir 94. A line 95is interconnected between port 96 of valve 83 and port 97 of valve 90. Apressure relief valve 98 is connected into line 95 and dischargesexcessive pressure therefrom into the line 99 connected to line 91 ofthe pump. Line 95 is connected through line 100 to the multipleconnector 181 to the lines 182 connected to the ports 69 of the ring 67.

Both of the control valves 83 and 90 have rotatable tubular members 103and 104 with appropriate porting oriented relative to the ports of thesevalves for operation as will be described. The members 1% and 104 eachhave arms 105, FIG. 11, fixed thereto which are pivotally connected at106 to the cross arm 107 having a pin 108 fixed intermediate its endsoperating in an elongated slot 109 in the control lever 118 pivotallymounted on a suitable pin carried on the frame 63. The upper end of thecontrol lever 110 has a snap pin 112 urged by a suitable spring 113 intothe various detent notches 114, 115, 116, 117 and 118 formed in thearcuate control bar 119 suitably fixed to the frame 63.

When the control lever 110 is positioned in notch 114, FIG. 11, thedevice is set in neutral as shown in FIG. 12, fluid circulating throughvalve 83, lines 85 and 95, valve 90 and through the pump 78 as indicatedby the flow arrows in the diagram. When the lever is in notch 115 thecircuit is conditioned for flow as shown in FIG. 13 for clockwiserotation.

FIG. 14 shows the flow pattern with the lever 110 in notch 116 forcounterclockwise operation. Brake condition is shown in FIG. 15 withlever in notch 118 (or 117 as the case may be) locking the turbine wheelagainst rotation.

While the apparatus herein disclosed and described constitutes apreferred form of the invention, it is also to be understood that theapparatus is capable of mechanical alteration without departing from thespirit of the invention and that such mechanical arrangement andcommercial adaptation as fall within the scope of the appendant claimsare intended to be included herein.

Having thus fully set forth and described this invention what is claimedand desired to be obtained by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In combination in a turbine structure comprising a rotatable turbinewheel having a bore and circumferentially spaced pockets separated byblades formed in said bore, a discharge port ring located in said boreincluding circumferentially spaced pairs of forward and reverse portsformed in said ring opening adjacent the bore of said turbine wheel, thecircumferential spacing of said pockets, blades and said pairs offorward and reverse ports being so arranged that a pair of forward andreverse ports are alternately interconnected by a single pocket andisolated from each other by said blades between adjacent pockets duringrotation of said turbine wheel.

2. In combination in a turbine structure comprising a rotatable turbinewheel having a bore and circumferentially spaced pockets separated byblades formed in said bore, a discharge port ring located in said boreincluding circumferentially spaced pairs of forward and reverse portsformed in said ring opening adjacent the bore of said turbine wheel, thecircumferential spacing of said pockets, blades and said pairs offorward and reverse ports being so arranged that a pair of forward andreverse ports are alternately interconnected by a single pocket andisolated from each other by said blades between adjacent pockets duringrotation of said turbine Wheel, said turbine structure including aplurality of circumferentially disposed pairs of said forward andreverse ports so arranged that at all times during the rotation of saidturbine at least one pair of forward and reverse ports areinterconnected through a pocket.

3. In combination in a turbine structure comprising a rotatable turbinewheel having a bore and circumferentially spaced pockets separated byblades formed in said bore, a discharge port ring located in said boreincluding circumferentially spaced pairs of forward and reverse portsformed in said ring opening adjacent the bore of said turbine wheel, thecircumferential spacing of said pockets, blades and said pairs offorward and reverse ports being so arranged that a pair of forward andreverse ports are alternately interconnected by a single pocket andisolated from each other by said blades between adjacent pockets duringrotation of said turbine wheel, said turbine structure including aplurality of circumferentially disposed pairs of said forward andreverse ports so arranged that at all times during the rotation of saidturbine at least one pair of forward and reverse ports areinterconnected through a pocket, and a reversing control valve includingmeans for manipulating said valve means to reverse the flow for eachpair of forward and reverse ports to change the direction of rotation ofsaid turbine wheel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS289,560 Richardson Dec. 4, 1883 305,575 Culver Sept. 23, 1884 584,578Davidson June 15, 1897 589,710 Flncks Sept. 7, 1897 613,694 Lundell Nov.8, 1898 726,686 Holt Apr. 28, 1903 823,210 Fletcher June 12, 1906890,392 Adams June 9, 1908 901,385 Rowan et al. Oct. 20, 1908 1,021,562Thomas Mar. 26, 1912 1,069,129 Hamilton Aug. 5, 1913 1,110,302 FlatauSept. 8, 1914 1,503,264 Case July 29, 1924 1,797,567 Bncher Mar. 24,1931 2,756,962 Joyce July 31, 1956 2,851,289 Pederson Sept. 9, 19582,857,135 Morris Oct. 21, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 28,143 Norway of 1916

